Flippfly's minimalistic endless runner Race the Sun has had a long life since its release nearly two years ago. Along with its base thrill, online leaderboards and community and content have contributed much to the longevity of the tense experience. Now the team has seen fit to add new DLC in the way of a mode called Sunrise, along with the original soundtrack. Both are available as of today for $1.99 US/$2.19 CDN each.
It's more common for a developer to release downloadable content a few weeks or months after the initial release, so Flippfly's approach is a curious one as the game approaches its two-year anniversary. But after speaking with co-owner Aaron San Filippo, GameZone learned that it is as much of a reward for existing fans as it is a measurement tool for the game's future.
"We had a lot of people asking for a 'Zen' mode," said San Filippo, "and the idea really made a lot of sense to us. We thought it'd be a cool way to support the community and extend out the 'long tail' from a business perspective."
Interestingly, while the mode is designed to be a more relaxing experience, remnants of the thrill seen in normal gameplay are still present. "The basic goal of the mode is to encourage that 'zone out' feel that you can experience in the game already, but to extend it indefinitely." One key difference is that the game's main source of tension — the setting of the sun — is no longer an ingredient in Sunrise. "The mode doesn't get harder, and the sun doesn't go down," San Filippo shared. "We wanted it to just be a purely exhilarating experience without the stress."
Sunrise doesn't necessarily confirm that Race the Sun's future will continue to grow with more add-ons, but Flippfly does have interest in renewing the momentum if the community is there for it. "We still have a lot of ideas for Race The Sun," San Filippo confirmed, adding that they are also looking to get involved in other projects. "The community's reaction to this DLC and our upcoming iOS launch will undoubtedly have a big effect on our future work."
With Race the Sun also launching for iOS platforms this week (July 30), these initiatives will surely give hardcore fans reason to soar once again. And for the most observant of players, San Filippo teased another incentive for Sunrise: "There may be a few easter eggs lurking in there too."
